Display rack



l... H. BEST DISPLAY RACK Nov. 22, 1938.

Filed oct. 20, 1957 /Jm mx @W #www Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED ,STXIESIv DISPLAY RAoK Leon H. Best, Galva, `Ill., assignor tolJohnvH. Best & Sons, Inc., Galvaflll., a corporation of `Illi nois Application october 20, waalserialr No.1169,94

12 I Claims.-

This invention relates to ldisplay racks and more particularly to a novel and improved rack adaptedto be used for the display of sheet samples of carpets, rugs, linoleum, draperies, up-

I holstery and the like.

' In the display ofsheet samples it has been cutomary to stack the samples one upon the other in piles upon the floor, secure them in piles to stands resting upon the iloor or to hang them on pivoted racks to which the samples are attached' and which racks may be swung in a horizontal plane so that the samples may be inspected by salesmen and prospective purchasers. The present invention is of an arm and associatedpartsused in the racks referred to. When the sheet samples are hung in horizontal position-it is often desirabler to `be able to remove the samples for display on theA floor so that a prospectivecustomer may more readily visualize the appearance of the product being sold in a location such as it wouldreceive in the customershome or place of business. For example, a`

customer being shown linoleum samples by a salesman will often request the salesman to remove the sample from the rack where it is hung in vertical position and place the sampleupon the floor so that the customer can look down i upon the sample and thus visualize its appearance in his home or place of business. Some ofthe racks heretofore in use have necessitated that the samples bepermanently aflixed to the' p arms so that the salesman would be unable to comply withthe customers request. Other racks wherein the samples are removable often re-` from a rack of samples displayed in a verticalV position.

After. a salesman has removed a number of samples from the rack and they'are strewn about the ioor of the salesroom, it is desirable that the samples be replaced as quickly as possible to effect a neat appearance to the salesroom and to malte the samples readily accessible to view by the next customer. It is therefore another object to enable quick and easy installation of the samples for-vertical display upon a display rack. v

, 'AV further objectv of the invention is to provide the top' marginal edge of the sample suitably secured to' the sample and adapted to-be engaged with` and' disengagedfrom the display arm so that 'the sample may be readily and easily removedfrom the `arm land 'readily and: easily replaced thereupon; l

A still further: object of the invention is tok provide a display arm-for` displaying samples in vertical position" whereon sheetsamples having hanger barsseouredtheretomaybe installed and removed with'ease; and which arman-d hanger bars are offrelatively inexpensive; light and efcient'construction. Y

Referring to the 1drawing*wherein' a* selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated-- Fig. 1 isaplan view off an arm having one sample suspendedv therefrom' andi having another sampleremoved;

Fig. 2"is 'a sectional-view on theY line 2'-`-2 of 1i'ig'.1;and`

Fig. 3'r is a sectionaliview similar tolFig. 2 but showing onesample lremoved and` another samplelnthe-"operati'on of being removed.

A hinge'bar 4 isfs'ecured'to the wall 5-and directly therebelow apivot bar 6 is likewise secured to thewall 'I'lie pivot bar and hinge bar have aligned openings T and 8" therein, respectively. Anfarmcornprises a- U-shaped body member I0 having horizontal' outstanding flanges II at the top thereof..`v` A` substantially T-shaped" retaining membern |21' has the vertical portion I3l of the T` inserted `inthe lU -shaped'portini of the member IGI TheT-shaped member also has outstanding flanges I4 at the top thereof which terminate in downwardly extending edge portions: I5 at the outer ends. A hinge pin I6 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the memberl 9 and is adapted to engage they opening 1 inthe hinge bar 4. A: brace I1 is likewise welded or otherwise suitablysecurednear the outer end of the arm 9 and has its lowerend inserted in the opening 8 in Athe pivot bar 6 whereby the arm is held in position for swinging about the hinge bar opening I'in a horizontal plane.

The edgeportion I5 on the T-shaped member of the armeXtends-downwardly from the flange Id` to a distance lessithan the entire distance to the flange II, leaving aI space between the edge portion lyandthe flange II. A chamber I8 is provldedby the-vertical` partY I3, the T-shape-d member I2, the flange I4A and the edge portion lol I5 thereof, and the flange II of the U-shaped member 9.

A hanger bar, generally indicated by I9 comprises a hanger plate 20 and locking plate 2I. The hanger plate is bent slightly at 22 and the locking plate is bent slightly at 23 to engage a sample 24 which is locked therein by means of the bolt and nut 25 extending through the hanger plate and locking plate above the top of the sample. The upper end. of the locking plate is nangedat 26 to space the body of the plate away from the hanger plate 20, thereby effecting elli-- cient clamping jaws at 22 and 23 for securely holdingvthe sample therebetween. The hanger plate is bent at the top to form a flange 21 "I'he ange 21 is further bent to form a locking edge portion 28. The locking edge portion is adapted to be inserted through the space between the edge portion I5 and the flange I I upon the entire hanger being tilted at an angle from the horizontal. The locking edge portion 28 is then pushed into the chamber I8 and the hanger allowed to fall into substantially vertical position where it is held, by reason of the edge portion 28, by an angular bend to secure itself in the chamber against accidental displacement. 'Ihe construction of the device is such that a hanger as I9 is suspended from both sides of the arm whereby two samples are displayed, one from one side of the arm and one from the other, and may be viewed by a customer upon the salesman swinging the'entire armwith hangers and sarnples about the connection at the hinge bar 4 and the pivot bar 6.r A roller 29 is provided at the outer extremity of` the arm 9 to space the samples on one arm from the samples on the other arm during the swinging of the arm in the horizontal plane. y

It can readily be seen that my invention provides an eillcient means for displaying sheet samples and for removing and installing sheet samples from and to the arm. The arm and associated parts are of light but strong and substantial construction and the parts are of simple form but are adapted to be easily assembled and form a strong and rigid rack. 'I'he rack is capable of withstanding rough usage and affords a merchandiser an vadequate and satisfactory means for storing sheet samples of merchandise so that they are displayed in first-class condition.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and without sacrificing theadvantages of the invention, and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims:r e

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising a supporting arm having a slot therein extending substantially throughout the length of said arm at a side thereof, means for mounting said arm in horizontal position, and a hanger bar adapted to be fastened to an edge of a sample to be displayed and having means thereon extending substantially coextensive with the length of said slot and bodily insertable therethrough for removably retaining said bar on said arm.

2. A display rack comprising a supporting arm having a slot therein extending substantially throughout the length of said arm at a side thereof, means for mounting said arm in horizontal position, a hanger bar comprising a hanger plate, a locking plate, means securing said locking plate and hanger plate together to lock an edge of a sample to be displayed therebetween, and means on said hanger plate extending substantially coextensive with the length of said slot and bodily insertable therethrough for removably retaining said bar on said arm.

3. A display rack comprising a supporting arm having a slot therein extending substantially throughout the length of said arm at a side thereof, means for mounting said arm in horizontal position, a hanger bar comprising a hanger plate, a locking plate, means at one edge of said locking plate to space the body thereof at one endfrom said hanger plate, means engaging said locking plate and said hanger plate to clamp a sample to be displayed between the opposite edge of said locking plate and an edge of said hanger plate, and means on said hanger plate extending substantially coextensive with the length of saldi slot and bodily insertable therethrough for removably retaining said bar on said arm.

4. A display rack comprising a supporting arm having a slotted chamber therein extending substantially throughout the length of said arm, means for mounting said arm in a horizontal position, a hanger bar comprising a hanger plate, a locking plate, means on said hanger bar to secure an edge of a sample to be displayed between said locking plate and said hanger plate, and a flange on the hanger plate extending substantially coextensive with said slot and chamber and having the edge portion thereof bent at an angle to the body of said plate and bodily insertable through said slotl and into the chamber in the arm for removably retaining said bar on said arm.

, 5. Aedisplay rack comprising a supporting arm,

means for mounting said arm in a horizontal position, said arm comprising a body member and a retaining member, said body member and retaining member secured together and having portionsI of the bodies of said members spaced apart forming an enclosed chamber therebetween, a side wall of said chamber having a slot therein extending substantially throughout the length of said chamber, and means fastened to an edge of the sample to be displayed and bodily insertable throughsaid slot and into said chamber for removably retaining said fastening means on said arm.

6. A display rack comprising a supporting arm, means for mounting said arm in a horizontal position, said arm comprising a body member, a flange on said body member, a retaining member secured to said body member, a bent edge portion on said retaining member bent toward and spaced from said body member flange, means fastened to an edge of a sample to be displayed and adapted to be inserted through said space between the retaining member edge portion and body member flange for removably retaining said fastening means on said arm.

'7. A display rack comprising a. supporting arm, means for mounting said arm in a horizontal position, said arm comprising a body member having a flange at the top thereof, a retaining member secured to and extending above said body member flange and having a bent edge portion thereon at the upper edge thereof, said bent edge portion being spaced from said body member flange, and means fastened to an edge of a sample to be displayed and adapted to be inserted through said space between said body member flange and said bent edge portion for removably retaining said fastening means on said arm.

8. A display rack comprising a supporting arm,

means for mounting said arm in a horizontal position, said arm comprising a body member having a flange at the top thereof, a retaining member secured to said body member and extending above said body member ange, means on said retaining member defining a chamber with said body member iiange, said arm having a slot communicating with said chamber, and means fastened to an edge of a sample to be displayed and adapted to be inserted through said slot and into said chamber for removably retaining said fastening means on said arm.

9. A display rack comprising a supporting arm, meansI for mounting said arm in horizontal position, said arm comprising a body member having a flange at the top thereof, a retaining member secured to said body member and extending above said body member flange and having a flange thereon, said retaining member flange having an edge portion bent toward said body member iiange whereby said body member flange, said retaining member and said retaining member flange and edge portion define a chamber, said arm having a slot in a wall of said chamber other than the bottom Wall thereof, and means fastened to an edge of a sample to be displayed and adapted to be inserted through said slot and into said chamber for removably retaining said fastening means on said arm.

10. A hanger bar adapted to be fastened to a sample to be displayed and adjacent the top edge thereof, said bar comprising a hanger plate having a body, a locking plate, means for securing said plates together to secure said sample therebetween, a flange on said hanger plate bent from said body, and a reversely bent edge portion on said flange forming means engageable with a supporting arm of a display rack for removably locking said bar thereto.

1l. A sample supporting arm for a display rack comprising a pair of members secured to each other, one of said members having a ange thereon, the other of said members having a iiange thereon, said latter ange having a bent edge portion whereby said anges and bent edge portion define a slotted chamber tol receive and -removably retain means secured to a sample to be displayed on said arm.

12. A sample supporting arm for a display rack comprising a U-shaped body member, a T-shaped retaining member secured to said body member, said retaining member extending above said body member, and flanges on said body member and 'said retaining member at the tops thereof, said ange on said retaining member having an edge portion bent toward said body member flange and spaced therefrom whereby means secured to a sample to be displayed will be received in said slot and removably retained on said arm.

LEON I-I. BEST. 

